Federal civil suit alleging trafficking names Trump AG pick Matt Gaetz as defendant

Claims in the lawsuit

The complaint alleges that former Seminole County tax collector Joel Greenberg recruited women described as vulnerable and lacking steady income through SeekingArangement.com. It says he connected them with a group that included Gaetz and Dorworth.

The lawsuit also lists Greenberg Dental Associates LLC and other companies connected to Greenberg’s family as defendants. Its attorneys cite financial records and electronic payment descriptions, which they say were used to disguise commercial sex transactions.

Payments and further allegations

According to the complaint, Jane Doe 1 received more than $6,000 from Gaetz, while Jane Doe 2 received over $4,000. The listed payment descriptions included “Being my friend,” “car deductible” and “Love you.” Jane Doe 1 also alleges that she saw Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old identified in the case as “Victim A.” That person is not a plaintiff in the lawsuit.

Gaetz and plaintiff responses

Gaetz, 44, a former Florida congressman, rejected much of the conduct alleged. He said he looked forward to taking the plaintiffs’ depositions and argued that the case relies largely on a House committee report that did not let him confront his accusers.

In a statement to The Independent, Gaetz also shared a screenshot of an Instagram post showing a Bahamas trip to dispute the claims. The lawsuit describes him as a sitting congressman and one of Trump’s closest allies at the time.

Plaintiffs’ attorney Kuvin said he wanted to question Gaetz under oath, where testimony would carry a perjury penalty. He contrasted that with the committee process, which he said lacked that opportunity.

Nomination and later roles

The lawsuit is the latest development in a sex scandal that helped derail Trump’s attorney general nomination for Gaetz. Gaetz resigned from Congress in 2024 as a bipartisan House Ethics Committee investigation into alleged misconduct neared its final stages.